The Illustrated History of the New Testament

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Matthew the Evangelist, primarily tracing the humanity The human nature of Jesus. and genealogy The family lineage recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. of Christ, is shown in the likeness of an angel. original Latin: "Mattheus Euangeliſta principaliter humanitatem & genealogiam Chriſti profequens, angeli ſpecie exhibetur."

A woodcut illustration depicting Saint Matthew the Evangelist. Matthew is shown with a halo and a turban-like head covering, seated on the ground and focused on writing in a large book held on his lap. Behind him, a winged angel leans in, pointing toward the book as if providing divine inspiration. To the left is a table draped with a cloth, upon which sit a large vessel with foliage and two slender flasks. In the background, a classical column stands to the left, and a distant town or landscape is visible through an architectural opening.

Matthew the Evangelist primarily describes the lineage and humanity of Christ; he is depicted in the form of an angel. original German: "Mattheus der Euangeliſt / beſchreibt fürnemlich das geſchlecht vnd menſcheyt Chriſti / würt in Engels geſtalt gebildet." In traditional Christian iconography, the four Evangelists are assigned symbols; Matthew is the winged man or angel because his Gospel begins with the human genealogy of Jesus.

Matthew, Evangelist, humanity, genealogy, Christ, angel, lineage, humanity, angel.